I say again, there is no English soul More stronger to direct you than yourself, If with the sap of reason you would quench, Or but allay, the fire of passion. BUCKINGHAM Sir, I am thankful to you; and I'll go along By your prescription: but this top-proud fellow, Whom from the flow of gall I name not but From sincere motions, by intelligence, And proofs as clear as founts in July when We see each grain of gravel, I do know To be corrupt and treasonous. NORFOLK Say not 'treasonous.' BUCKINGHAM To the king I'll say't; and make my vouch as strong As shore of rock. Attend. This holy fox, Or wolf, or both,--for he is equal ravenous As he is subtle, and as prone to mischief As able to perform't; his mind and place Infecting one another, yea, reciprocally--Only to show his pomp as well in France As here at home, suggests the king our master To this last costly treaty, the interview, That swallow'd so much treasure, and like a glass Did break i' the rinsing. NORFOLK Faith, and so it did. BUCKINGHAM Pray, give me favour, sir. This cunning cardinal The articles o' the combination drew As himself pleased; and they were ratified As he cried 'Thus let be': to as much end As give a crutch to the dead: but our count-cardinal Has done this, and 'tis well; for worthy Wolsey, Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows,--Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy To the old dam, treason,--Charles the emperor, Under pretence to see the queen his aunt--For 'twas indeed his colour, but he came To whisper Wolsey,--here makes visitation:
His fears were, that the interview betwixt England and France might, through their amity, Breed him some prejudice; for from this league Peep'd harms that menaced him: he privily Deals with our cardinal; and, as I trow,--Which I do well; for I am sure the emperor Paid ere he promised; whereby his suit was granted Ere it was ask'd; but when the way was made, And paved with gold, the emperor thus desired, That he would please to alter the king's course, And break the foresaid peace. Let the king know, As soon he shall by me, that thus the cardinal Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases, And for his own advantage. NORFOLK I am sorry To hear this of him; and could wish he were Something mistaken in't. BUCKINGHAM No, not a syllable:
I do pronounce him in that very shape He shall appear in proof.
Enter BRANDON, a Sergeant-at-arms before him, and two or three of the Guard BRANDON Your office, sergeant; execute it. Sergeant Sir, My lord the Duke of Buckingham, and Earl Of Hereford, Stafford, and Northampton, IArrest thee of high treason, in the name Of our most sovereign king. BUCKINGHAM Lo, you, my lord, The net has fall'n upon me! I shall perish Under device and practise. BRANDON I am sorry To see you ta'en from liberty, to look on The business present: 'tis his highness' pleasure You shall to the Tower. BUCKINGHAM It will help me nothing To plead mine innocence; for that dye is on me Which makes my whitest part black. The will of heaven Be done in this and all things! I obey.
O my Lord Abergavenny, fare you well! BRANDON Nay, he must bear you company. The king To ABERGAVENNYIs pleased you shall to the Tower, till you know How he determines further. ABERGAVENNY As the duke said, The will of heaven be done, and the king's pleasure By me obey'd! BRANDON Here is a warrant from The king to attach Lord Montacute; and the bodies Of the duke's confessor, John de la Car, One Gilbert Peck, his chancellor-- BUCKINGHAM So, so;These are the limbs o' the plot: no more, I hope. BRANDON A monk o' the Chartreux. BUCKINGHAM O, Nicholas Hopkins? BRANDON He. BUCKINGHAM My surveyor is false; the o'er-great cardinal Hath show'd him gold; my life is spann'd already:
I am the shadow of poor Buckingham, Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on, By darkening my clear sun. My lord, farewell.
Exeunt SCENE II. The same. The council-chamber. Cornets. Enter KING HENRY VIII, leaning on CARDINAL WOLSEY's shoulder, the Nobles, and LOVELL; CARDINAL WOLSEY places himself under KING HENRY VIII's feet on his right side KING HENRY VIII My life itself, and the best heart of it, Thanks you for this great care: I stood i' the level Of a full-charged confederacy, and give thanks To you that choked it. Let be call'd before us That gentleman of Buckingham's; in person I'll hear him his confessions justify;And point by point the treasons of his master He shall again relate.
A noise within, crying 'Room for the Queen!' Enter QUEEN KATHARINE, ushered by NORFOLK, and SUFFOLK: she kneels. KING HENRY VIII riseth from his state, takes her up, kisses and placeth her by him QUEEN KATHARINE Nay, we must longer kneel: I am a suitor. KING HENRY VIII Arise, and take place by us: half your suit Never name to us; you have half our power:
The other moiety, ere you ask, is given;
Repeat your will and take it. QUEEN KATHARINE Thank your majesty.
That you would love yourself, and in that love Not unconsider'd leave your honour, nor The dignity of your office, is the point Of my petition. KING HENRY VIII Lady mine, proceed. QUEEN KATHARINE I am solicited, not by a few, And those of true condition, that your subjects Are in great grievance: there have been commissions Sent down among 'em, which hath flaw'd the heart Of all their loyalties: wherein, although, My good lord cardinal, they vent reproaches Most bitterly on you, as putter on Of these exactions, yet the king our master--Whose honour heaven shield from soil!--even he escapes not Language unmannerly, yea, such which breaks The sides of loyalty, and almost appears In loud rebellion. NORFOLK Not almost appears, It doth appear; for, upon these taxations, The clothiers all, not able to maintain The many to them longing, have put off The spinsters, carders, fullers, weavers, who, Unfit for other life, compell'd by hunger And lack of other means, in desperate manner Daring the event to the teeth, are all in uproar, And danger serves among then! KING HENRY VIII Taxation!